Inflatable interconnected departmentalized container



Dec. 20, 1966 J. J. ESTY 3,292,339

INFLATABLE INTERCONNECTED DEPARTMENTALIZED CONTAINER Filed July 5, 1963 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I INVENTOR. 25'; 256 258 260 JOSEPH A TTORNE Y5 Dec. 20, 1966 sT 3,292,339

INFLATABLE INTERCONNECTED DEPARTMENTALIZED CONTAINER Filed July 5, 196-3 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L; INVENTOR.

JOSEPH J. EST) A T TORNE Y5 3,292,339 INFLATABLE INTERCONNECTED DEPART- MENTALIZED CONTAINER Joseph J. Esty, 1812 Tustiu St., San Diego, Calif. 92106 Filed July 5, 1963, Ser. No. 293,099 8 Claims. (Cl. 53-21) The present invention relates to the process of treating materials and packaging the same. The present invention is concerned with the removal of extraneous and undesirable matter from, for example,'n1achined parts, and the packaging of the same without subjecting the parts to contaminating environment.

Heretofore it has been the practice to clean material parts in a room which has been subjected to conditioning, i.e. extraordinary attempts to remove extraneous matter such as dust, moisture etc. which conditioning is extremely costly. The packaging of the material also had to take place without recontaminatiug the material and usually such packaging took place in the same room where the cleaning was effected. Obviously an inlet and/ or an outlet must be provided for the entering of the material into the room and the removal of the material from the room. Extreme care had to be taken for preventing the ingress of contaminating air through the inlet and outlet of the room. Extreme care had to be exercised in preventing ingress of contaminating air through doors through which the workmen had to pass.

In practicing the present invention, the material to be treated, for example, cleaning of machine parts, these parts are in spaced relationship on an impervious section of weldable plastic substance. Another section of weldable plastic substance is welded to form a peripherally sealed container having interconnected compartments with the materials separated from one another by intermediate welded portions of the section. Thereafter, the materials so spaced from one another in the sealed container are treated to a fluid. Then the container is sealed at the point or points at which the fluid was inserted into the container and/ or removed from the container.

Where it is desirable to completely isolate one of the compartments from the other, the sections of plastic substance are further Welded, after treating operation, so as to provide compartments isolated from one another.

In certain instances it is desirable to exhaust part of the treating fluid before the inlet and/ or outlet are sealed.

Further features and the advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, refernce being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings: A

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a container housing materials which have been treated and are ready for shipment;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a container showing parts therein and further showing the embodiment in which the compartments are completely isolated from one another;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view, of another style of container; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring more in detail to the drawings and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, the container is shown at 20 which is formed of two integral sections or two separate sheets of air impervious and flexible material, such as polyvinylchloride. The bottom section or sheet is shown at 22 and the top section or sheet is shown at 24. The peripheral edges of the sections are welded to one another as shown at 26 to form a closed chamber 28. This chamber 28 is I United States Patent C) Patented Dec. 20, 1966 connected with two valves 30 and 32. For the sake of convenience, valve 30 will be referred to as the inlet valve and valve 32 as the outlet valve. These valves may be adjusted to open or closed position. Any desirable form of valve may be employed. Those herein shown are known as Roberts Valves 140-ACE or 140-ASE, manufactured by Holkey-Roberts Corporation, Spring Valley Avenue, Paramus, New Jersey and shown in its catalogue CAT-578.

The upper and lower sections 22 and 24 are welded to one another also at portions 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52. The welded portions 34, 36, 38, and 40 cooperate with the sections 22 and 24 to form a compartment 54; the welded portions 38, 40, 42 and 44 cooperate with the sections 22 and 24 to form a compartment 56; and welded portions 42, 44, 46, and 48 cooperate to form the compartment 58; and the welded portions 46, 48, 50 and 52 cooperate with the sections 22 and 24 to form a compartment 60. All of these compartments are interconnected through those portions of the sections 22 and 24 which are not connected by the welded portions 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52. Thus, it is apparent that as fluid is circulated through the container 20 each of the compartments is subjected to such fluid.

Various components are contained in these compartments and may be separated from one another as shown in compartments 56, 58 and 60. Obviously, the position of the intermediate welds is so selected that it is impossible for the material contained in the compartment to shift to a position in which it contacts an element in the next adjacent compartment.

In carrying out the process, the materials indicated at 62, 64, 68 and 70 are placed at a desirable position upon the lower section of sheet 22. Then the section or sheet 24, with the valves 30 and 32 in position, is superimposed on the sheet 22. Thus in one welding operation, the welds 26 about the periphery of the sheets and the welds 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 are carried out simultaneously. In this manner the container is formed having the interconnected components 54, 56, 58 and 60.

Thereafter a cleaning fluid, such as carbon tetrachloride or trichloroethylene is caused to flow from the inlet tube 72, inlet valve 30, through the chamber 28 including all of the compartments 54, 56, 58 and 60, through the outlet valve 32 and then through the outlet tube 74. The flow is continued until the materials in the compartments are thoroughly clean.

If desirable, the cleaning fluid can be retained in the separate compartments of the container 20. In which event both valves are closed prior to the evacuation of V the cleaning fluid. The container with the encased material in the separate compartments can be shipped relatively flat or may be folded for compactness.

It may, however, be desirable to ship the material in a dry state. In this event, the cleaning material is evacuated, as for example, by shutting off the flow of cleaning fluid to the inlet tube 72 and then draining the container. Thereafter, a material drying agent is caused to flow through the container including all of the compartments. After the encased material is thoroughly dry, the drying fluid is exhausted and then the inlet and outlet valves are closed. Again the container with the materials encased therein and separated from one another can be shipped with the container flat or folded for compactness, as is more clearly shown in FIG. 6 of my co-pending application, Serial No. 257,608 filed February 11, 1963.

Referring now to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the container is shown at which is formed of two sheets of material, the lower sheet being shown at 122 and the upper sheet at 124. The valves 30 and 32 are centrally disposed in this embodiment and the sheets 122 and 124 are trimmed to form a circle. The peripheral 3 weld 126 forms the chamber 128 and this chamber 128 is divided into four interconnected chambers 154, 156, 158 and 160 by radially extending welds 140, 142, 144 and 146, which radially extending welds interconnect upper and lower sections 122 and 124.

If desirable, tabs carrying grommets 123 are welded to the sheets 122 and 124 simultaneously with the weldings 126, 140, 142, 144 and 146. These tabs may be formed of the same material as the sheets 122 and 124, namely polyvinyl chloride. These tabs may be used for positioning the containers in superimposed position during the treating operation.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, it is substantially the same shape as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Inasmuch as it is a top plan view, only the top section of sheet 224 is shown, the bottom sheet being allochirally shaped with respect to the top sheet. In this embodiment, the first weld is similar to that as described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, the peripheral weld being indicated at 226 and the inter-mediate weld is similar to any of the intermediate Welds shown in FIG; 1, as for example, similar to weld 34, herein indicated by dotted lines 234, the welds extending the length of the distance between said dotted lines so as to provide a plurality of interconnected compartments.

After the treating operation, the welds are extended outwardly to the periphery of the container 220 so as to completely isolate the compartments 254, 256, 258 and 260 from one another. The embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is used primarily for the treatment and packaging of like parts. By virtue of this embodiment, the parts 262 can be removed from the ensemble by cutting through the weld without in any way disturbing the next adjacent material 262, the next adjacent materials remaining encased in their respective compartments and will not be contaminated by the environment.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a simple and inexpensive process for treating materials and insuring that such materials are in no way contaminated from the time they are treated to the time that they are to be applied as intended. The envelope or casing in which they are treated, originally, provide a tough shipping container.

The sheets or sections are formed preferably of transparent material whereby the elements contained therein can be identified.

Since the containers are formed of inexpensive material, they can be treated as scrap after the material is removed therefrom or, of course, can be reused. Also, it is to be understood that each container can be serviced with fluids separately or may be connected in series.

While the forms of embodiment herein shown and described constitute preferred forms it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. Those steps in the process of treating materials and packaging the same, which steps consist in:

(A) Placing the materials in spaced relationship on an impervious section of weldable plastic substance;

(B) welding another section of weldable plastic substance onto the first section to form a peripherally sealed container and welding the sections at portions intermediate the materials to form interconnected compartments with the materials separated from one another by the intermediate welded portions of the sections;

(C) treating the materials to a fluid while in the interconnected compartments by causing the fluid to flow through at least one opening in the container;

(D) and then sealing the container about the opening.

2. Those steps in the process of treating materials and packaging the same, which steps consist in:

(A) Placing the materials in spaced relationship on an impervious section of weldable plastic substance;

(B) welding another section of weldable plastic substance onto the first section to form a peripherally sealed container and welding the sections at portions intermediate the materials to form interconnected compartments with the materials separated from one another by the intermediate welded portions of the sections;

(C) treating the materials to a fluid while in the interconnected compartments by causing the fluid to flow through at least one opening in the container;

(D) welding the sections to isolate at least one of the compartments from another compartment;

(E) and sealing the container about the opening.

3. Those steps in the process of treating materials and packaging the same, which steps consist in:

(A) Placing the materials in spaced relationship on an,

impervious section of weldable plastic substance;

(B) welding another section of weldable plastic substance onto the first section to form a peripherally sealed container and welding the sections at portions intermediate the materials to form interconnected compartments with the materials separated from one another by the intermediate welded portions of the sections;

(C) treating the materials to a fluid while in the interstance onto the first section to form a peripherally sealed container and welding the sections at portions intermediate the materials to form interconnected compartments with the materials separated from one another by the intermediate welded portions of the sections;

(C) treating the materials to a fluid while in the interconnected compartments by causing the fluid to flow through at least one opening in the container;

(D) exhausting at least part of the fluid from the container through said opening;

(E) welding the sections to isolate at least one of the compartments from another compartment; (F) then sealing the container about the opening.

5. Those steps in the process of treating materials and packaging the same, which steps consist in:

(A) Placing the materials in spaced relationship on an impervious section of weldable plastic substance;v (B) welding another section of weldable plastic substance onto the first section to form a peripherally sealed container and welding the sections at portions intermediate the materials to form interconnected.

compartments with the materials separated from one another by the intermediate welded portions of the sections;

(C) causing a material treating fluid to flow through at least one opening in the container;

(D) and then sealing the container about the opening.

6. Those steps in the process of treating materials and packaging the same, which steps consist in:

(A) Placing the materials in spaced relationship on an impervious section of weldable plastic substance; (B) welding another section of weldable plastic substance onto the first section to form a peripherally sealed container and welding the sections at portions intermediate the materials to formmterconnected compartments with the materials separated.

from one another by the intermediate welded portions of the sections;

(C) can-sing a material treating fluid to flow through at least one opening in the container;

(D) Welding the sections to isolate at least one of the compartments from another compartment;

(E) and sealing the container about the opening.

7. Those steps in the process of treating materials and packaging the same, which steps consist in:

(A) Placing the materials in spaced relationship on an impervious section of weldable plastic substance;

(B) welding another section of welda-ble plastic substance onto the first section to form a peripherally sealed container and welding the sections at portions intermediate the materials to form interconnected compartments with the materials separated from one another by the intermediate welded portions of the sections;

(C) causing a material treating fluid to flow through at least one opening in the container;

(D) exhausting at least part of thefluid from the container through said opening;

(E) and then sealing the container about the opening.

8. Those steps in the process of treating materials and packaging the same, which steps consist in:

(A) Placing the materials in spaced relationship on an impervious section of weldable plastic substance;

(B) welding another section of weldable plastic substance onto the first section to form a peripherally sealed container and Welding the sections at portions intermediate the materials to form interconnected compartment-s with the materials separated from one another by the intermediate welded portions of the sections;

(C) causing a material treating fluid to flow through at least one opening in the container;

(D) exhausting at least part of the fluid from the container through said opening;

(E) Welding the sections to isolate at least one of the compartments from another compartment;

(F) then sealing the container about the opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,061,984 10/1962 Mahafly 53-22 FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

R. L. FARRIS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. THOSE STEPS IN THE PROCESS OF TREATING MATERIALS AND PACKAGING THE SAME, WHICH STEPS CONSIST IN: (A) PLACING THE MATEIALS IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP ON AN IMPREVIOUS SECTION OF WELDABLE PLASTIC SUBSTANCE; (B) WELDING ANOTHER SECTION OF WELDABLE PLASTIC SUBSTANCE ONTO THE FIRST SECTION TO FORM A PERIPHERALLY SEALED CONTAINER AND WELDING THE SECTIONS AT PORTIONS INTERMEDIATE THE MATERIALS TO FORM INTERCONNECTED COMPARTMENTS WITH THE MATERIAL SEPARATED FROM ONE ANOTHER BY THE INTERMEDIATE WELDED PORTIONS OF THE SECTIONS; (C) TREATING THE MATERIALS TO A FLUID WHILE IN THE INTERCONNECTED COMPARTMENTS BY CAUSING THE FLUID TO FLOW THROUGH AT LEAST ONE OPENING IN THE CONTAINER; (D) AND THEN SEALING THE CONTAINER ABOUT THE OPENING. 